A report from the European Commission has estimated that the ban on meat and bone
meal protein being used for animal feed within the European Union is likely to
create a demand for imports of 1 to 1.5 million tonnes of soya meal, an increase
of 5% over existing levels. The report said that there was no problem regarding
availability of soya on the world market. It added that the development of alternative
supplies in the EU of oil seed rape, protein rich crops and dried fodder were
all "problematic." The report concluded: "Soya meal is the best
suited to replace (meat and bone meal)."

By Keith Nuthall, just-food.com correspondent